Month: August 2013

My musical history began in the early-to-mid sixties. Family legend had it I could recognise a specific 7″ single by the distinctive red-and-white label and would take it from the box and bring it to a nearby parent for them to play. And, as small children do, I would drag this record out repeatedly, insisting […]

I read somewhere that all the living we do is pure research. “That which does not kill/more grist for the mill”. For years, I’ve prided myself on being a method writer; I’ve done – and continue to do – all my own stunts. The process of writing is all about rigorous honesty. Back in the […]

Rolf Harris was lifted – again recently – and it didn’t even trend on twitter. Last December, the yewtree arrests were like an 1970s-themed advent calendar. Each morning, we awoke, bursting with excitement, eager to see who’d been huckled this time. And a little over six months later, we’re like, “meh…” We’re not shocked any […]

There’s a rising tide of bullshit, one that may well drown us all. Through no fault of my own, I was exposed to a few minutes of The Wright Stuff the other morning. Where one panellist explained that, if you give workers too many rights, your firm will go out of business. Similarly, if the […]

Still thinking about draconian governments and the jobless being used like a political football. It’s a shame the most vocal opposition to this government seems mired in a very black-and-white misery of its own. “Don’t be fucking,” they clamour. “And definately, do not be committing all that pervy stuff.” As if that wasn’t bad enough, […]

I started thinking yesterday about how much time and effort goes into working – even in jobs that would make you rip your own throat out if you sobered up for any length of time. That nice Mr Hitler, back in the 1930s, created full employment by sacking every woman in the country with a […]

I’m working too much. Worst of all, the job’s actually pretty good fun. Something I can get my teeth into, an activity that demands my full concentration for a goodly chunk of each day and leaves me spent and gary glittered after it’s over. I’m pretty lucky. Most people don’t have jobs that’ll let them […]

I’ve stared to mind map august’s happenings in coalface. Mibby that’s the way through this block – structure. So I have the bare bones of this month. All I have to do now is flesh it out and make it a bit viler! Piece of piss. I went back and reread what I’ve written already. […]